LCSW, 4 years of experience
Welcome! My name is Avin Anvaripour. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I want to first congratulate you on taking the first and most difficult step towards improving your mental health and quality of life. Let's be honest, reaching out for help can be really scary. Trust me, I know! If you want a therapist who will be your biggest cheerleader when you meet your goals, show you nonjudgmental support when things aren't going so well, and point out unhelpful patterns in the nicest possible way, I'm the therapist for you!
During our first session, my goal is to get to know you and develop an understanding of what your struggles and goals are, so we can come up with a plan for how to get you there. I will ask you about your symptoms, what brought you to therapy now, any past experiences with mental health treatment, your current stressors, and sources of support and strength. I also ask questions about any history of abuse/neglect or trauma. I don't expect you to go into any detail, and I'm mostly looking for yes or no answers. I just want to have a baseline understanding of your life experiences. If I ask a question you do not feel comfortable answering, you can tell me that. At the end, we will come up with a plan to work on meeting your goals. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns.
I have worked with a variety of populations and ages in multiple settings. I have experience working in the community, at a Community Mental Health Center, inpatient settings, and private practice. I am passionate about continuously expanding my knowledge and skills in areas related to mental health.
Have you been thinking nonstop about everything that could go wrong? Are you having a hard time making decisions about where you want to be in life, your career, friendships, or relationships? If this is you, I'm here to help!
I use CBT to help people consider different ways of thinking about situations, events, and interactions. Different thoughts and interpretations of the same event/situation can create different emotions and behavioral responses. I have had success with CBT in treating anxiety disorders, relationship difficulties, depression, grief, and trauma.
I use DBT to teach people specific techniques to improve their quality of life, cope with difficult emotions, improve relationships, manage suicidal ideation, and decrease harmful behaviors. I have found DBT techniques very effective in treating anxiety disorders, depression, panic attacks, and trauma-related symptoms. DBT skills are also life skills, so I firmly believe that everyone could benefit from using specific strategies in different situations.
I enjoy using a variety of techniques and theories with different clients depending on their preferences, needs, symptoms, and goals. This approach allows me to be more flexible and tailor treatment to meet individual needs of each client.
I incorporate a lot of psychoeducation in my practice. I enjoy helping people better understand themselves and their symptoms and believe that having knowledge and awareness is the first step in creating meaningful change. I want my clients to know the reason for using specific techniques and recommendations. Psychoeducation allows people to feel empowered and make informed decisions about their treatment.
I use a specific form of Prolonged Exposure Therapy called Written Exposure Therapy. I find this very beneficial for clients who enjoy writing or prefer to write about their traumatic experiences rather than talk about them. Due to the structure and format of this therapy, results can be seen in as little as 5 sessions, though some individuals need more. I also utilize this form of therapy with clients who have PTSD symptoms from a single traumatic event. They can repeat the protocol for as many single traumatic events as they would like to.